News of the ESi32 has set the hearts of ambitious but fiscally challenged samplists beating faster. Mike Barnes brings you this exclusive review of the machine which packs EIII sampling power into a box costing under £1200, and wonders 'Is it too good to be true?"

Following in the footsteps of Roland, Emu and Korg, Ensoniq have now taken the plunge into plug-in hardware with the latest release, the 16-bit Soundscape card for the PC. Paul Nagle puts it through its paces.

Mark of the Unicorn have taken a brand-new look at sequencing for their latest package, FreeStyle, which is aimed at entry-level users as well as musicians who would rather avoid most of the complexities of MIDI. Mike Collins checks it out.

Roland's new MCR8 hardware controller seeks to take the strain out of parameter access synth or software editing, by offering you real-time manipulation of any MIDI values from its front panel sliders and knobs. Paul Ward checks it out.

Yamaha's latest digital mixing console was by far the biggest crowd sensation at this year's APRS in London, taking many people by surprise with its low price and wealth of features. Dominic Hawken lends a listening ear to the first unit in the country.

Yamaha's new Virtual Acoustics instruments provide the cutting edge of sophisticated synthesis technology — at a price. But what is the company doing for the mere mortal musician amongst us? Martin Russ assesses their answer, the new W-series workstations.

Classical violin player Andrew Price is making his fortune with music that he deliberately didn't copyright. Here he explains to Paul White how he manages it, and offers some tips on blending MIDI-generated music with real orchestral players.

Canadian hardcore band Front Line Assembly have carved out a niche for themselves in the Electric Body Music market — but the hard men of synth rock have a softer side, which is emerging through various alter-egos and an evolution of the band's own sound. Nigel Humberstone talks to Front man Bill Leeb.

Karl Steinberg now runs one of Europe's most successful software houses. But the company grew from a mere idea and a small business loan. Paul White talked to the man behind the mighty Cubase at his Hamberg R&D department.

Producer Paul Staveley O'Duffy has strong opinions on how the music business can be improved. Here he puts the case for a more flexible approach to the record industry — one that would expand the boundaries of what the public gets to hear...

In the concluding part of this short series, our intrepid MIDI musicians turn their attention to the creation of sound effects and the final mix... By Paul D. Lehrman with Steve Olenick.
• Read Part 1 (December 1994)

The recently released 'Tangents 1973-1983' Tangerine dream boxed set chronicles the 10 seminal years the German group spent on the Virgin Label. Mark Prendergast concludes his history of the band, and looks at the effects they have had on the development of modern music technology.
• Read Part 1 (December 1994)

Nick Magnus concludes his exploration of MIDI controllers with a look at creative uses of SysEx, and some of the hardware MIDI devices which allow more intuitive uses of controllers. But first, how to mingle your Ooohs and Aaahs...
• Read Part 1 (December 1994)